Androgen effects on bone metabolism: recent progress and controversies

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Bone Biology
• Cellular and Molecular Medicine

Background:

• Androgens play a crucial role in skeletal development and maintenance in both sexes.
• Androgen receptors are present in bone cells, indicating bone as a target tissue for androgens.
• Gonadal and adrenal androgens directly influence osteoblastic cells, affecting proliferation, differentiation, mineralization, and gene expression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in understanding androgen action on bone.
• To summarize knowledge on local androgen metabolism within bone tissue.
• To discuss the direct and indirect effects of androgens and their antagonists on bone cells.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on androgen receptor action in bone.
• Analysis of research on local androgen metabolism in bone.
• Synthesis of findings on direct and indirect androgen effects on osteoblastic lineage cells.

Main Results:

• Androgen receptor signaling directly impacts osteoblastic cell functions.
• Androgen effects on bone can be modulated by differentiation stage and cell-specific characteristics.
• Autocrine and paracrine factors, such as TGF-β and IGFs, mediate some androgenic effects on bone.

Conclusions:

• Androgens are vital for bone health, acting through direct and indirect mechanisms.
• Understanding androgen receptor signaling and metabolism in bone is key to bone health research.
• Further research into androgen's role could lead to new therapeutic strategies for bone disorders.